How do you buy an owner occupied 4-plex?

[Brian V]

Hi, my wife and I are retired living on Social Security.
Our income is $2,500 a month and we have $30,000 in savings.

We would like to buy a nice 4 unit building and live in one
of the units. However, I called some lenders and they say I
don't have enough money for the down payment, and I can't
use the income being generated in the other 3 units to
qualify...In other words they are telling me I have to buy
this thing strictly based on my own income, and the down
payment would be 25%, which I don't have.

We think the properties get nicer around $200,000, but it
all looks like junk around $100,000. I'm not a handy man,
and we aren't looking to make a lot of money or expand--we
just would like some security.

Any ideas on what to do? My credit score is just over 700
and my wife's is 740's.

Thanks in advance for your help!